Seven years later:

Rakshasavarta

"Ghatotkacha!" Hidimbaa called, "stop, child! I cannot run with you!"

The obedient boy turned round and ran to Hidimbaa. Though he loved to play with his mother, her order would never be disobeyed by the little Rakshasa King. His wind-like running speed, which he had inherited from his father, could be stopped by a single order from Hidimbaa.

"Sit! Have your meal now!" Hidimbaa drew him closer and made him seat on her lap.

"Tell me stories, Maa! Please!" Ghatotkacha pleaded, placing his tiny arms round her neck.

"First you open your mouth!"

Ghatotkacha obeyed her. Hidimbaa fed him a small piece of the food. The child was but in a mood of hearing stories rather than eating.

"Maa, is my father more powerful than demons?" He eagerly asked.

"He is, child!" Hidimbaa caressed him, "do you know, he had smashed a large stone when he was just a newborn baby!"

"Really, Maa?" His little eyes shone in pride and interest.

"Really! Your father received might of ten thousand elephants by the blessings of NaagRaaj Vaasuki."

"Ten thousand elephants!" His mouth remained open in surprise and awe. Hidimbaa successfully put another morsel of food into his mouth.

"I too want to be as powerful as him, Maa!" Swallowing the food he said.

"You have to be, child! But for that you need to have your meal properly!"

"Pray, tell me more about father!" Ghatotkacha pleaded, "you said that he is a prince of Hastinapura. How did he come to this jungle then? How did you meet?"

"It's a long tale." Hidimbaa mused, her eyes softened in the sweet memories of their first meeting.

"Your father, uncles and grandmother were moving as fugitives in forests after escaping from Varanavata."

"Escape? Why, Maa?"

"Because they had to face a murder attempt there. They were about to be killed if they didn't escape."

"What! Who dared to kill them? You just tell me the names and see what I do to them!" Anger flashed in the boy's eyes as his tiny hand reached out for his wooden club. Hidimbaa could not resist smiling.

Like father, like son! Unable to see any trouble on the loved ones!

"Calm, Putra, you will definitely punish them, but for that have to grow up fast!" Hidimbaa caressed the child and took away the club. "Don't you want to listen what happened next?"

Ghatotkacha looked at her thoughtfully, and nodded.

"While roaming around the forests, finally they came here, in the land of Rakshasas. Exhausted on walking so long in dark on thorny paths, they fell asleep soon under a tree."

"Which tree? Can you show me?" Ghatotkacha was excited.

Hidimbaa smiled at his excess interest.

"The old Ashwattha tree around which you always play." She replied.

"That one! Really!" The boy's mouth remained open in awe. He knew he was going to love that tree more from today, as the memory of his father, his family!

"That tree has my father's touch!" He exclaimed in joy.

"It has. For your father sat awake, supporting his back on its trunk."

"Why did he not sleep, Maa? Was he not tired?"

"He was, son, but for him it was much more important to guard his mother and brothers than his own rest."

"And then you saw him?" The child jumped in excitement.

"Yes. But I was not happy. Because my brother had sent me to kill them for eating their flesh."

"Then?" Ghatotkacha held his breath.

"Your father did not let that happen. He fought the cruel Rakshasa singlehandedly and killed him."

"Didn't you feel bad for losing your brother?"

"I did. But the four brothers I got soon made me forget that grief." Hidimbaa smiled, "such are your four uncles, child! You are so blessed to have such a family!"

Hidimbaa fed him more. The boy ate silently, apparently lost in some thoughts.

"Maa, why does everyone in this jungle call me Maharaj?" The boy asked after swallowing.

"Because you indeed are their King, child!" Hidimbaa fed him another morsel of food.

"Was my father too a King, Maa?" His little eyes shone in interest.

"He was, son!" Hidimbaa mused, remembering her Lord, "he is the most powerful among men who had once ended the rule of evil in this forest, by killing a tyrannical Rakshasa King. He is the most caring man who can give up everything to protect his loved ones!" She looked away, emotions blurring her eyes. In vain, for her sensitive child noticed the sigh she tried to hide.

"Maa!" Ghatotkacha caressed her cheek, realizing her hidden pain, "I will go to father! I will bring him here, to meet you!"

Hidimbaa collected herself and smiled at her caring baby. He was just like his father!

"You definitely will, son! But Indraprastha is far away from here! How will you go there now?"

"In-dra-pras-tha?" He pronounced, as if feeling each syllable, "how far is it, Maa?"

"It is beside river Yamuna, far away from here. Your Jyeshtha Pita Yudhishthira is the King of Indraprastha. All your fathers and mothers live there."

"That means all of our family stay there only?"

"They do."

"When will I go to them?" Ghatotkacha looked impatiently.

"You will when you will grow up. And will take me too with you." Hidimbaa caressed her son who smiled happily and nodded.

"Now finish your meal fast! You need to study after that." Hidimbaa put another morsel of food into his tiny mouth.

The boy did not question anymore. His mind was already lost in the bliss of unseen Indraprastha. His little eyes were lost in the dreams of the place that had a part of him.

His father! His family! His heaven!

***

Indraprastha

"Now leave it, Krishney!" Yudhishthira softly said, holding her arm. "It's already past midnight."

"Few moments more, Natha, please!" Draupadi looked up at him, smiling. But the fatigue in her face was not hidden from his eyes.

"No more moments, Priye!" Yudhishthira turned slightly grave, "rest of the calculations can be done tomorrow also. Now sleep. It's the order of..."

"The king of Indraprastha!" Draupadi finished his line, her blue-lotus eyes hinted mischief.

"Wrong. The scion of Indraprastha!" Yudhishthira corrected, "our child will never like it if his mother falls sick!"

"Looks like the child had already a talk with his father and I knew nothing about it!" Draupadi shook her head fondly. The amused moment caught her unawares and taking that opportunity, Yudhishthira closed all the scrolls she was working with.

"Natha!" Draupadi frowned, "only half a page was left!"

"Tomorrow, Love!" Yudhishthira caressed her long tresses, "now forget your work and come to bed! You have to be well for the one who is coming within a month!"

Draupadi could not protest anymore. In front of his demand of love, she always had to give up.

"Have you even noticed how lean you are becoming!" Leading her to the bed, Yudhishthira gently said, "how many times have I told you not to take this much work pressure at least now? Why don't you leave it to me?"

"I cannot, Natha! In Aaryaputra Arjuna's absence, there is already a lot of workload on you! Now if you need to look after the treasury also, your health will break!" Draupadi put her arms around his neck, grinning, "will your child like that, Maharaj?"

"I really wish Arjuna come back soon, and you get some rest!" Yudhishthira could not suppress a sigh, "but it is not to be!"

Draupadi bit her tongue for reminding him of his pain. She ran her fingers through his hair to comfort him, "Natha..."

"I cannot forgive myself, Krishney!" His eyes betrayed hurt, "these palatial comforts whip me when I remember that he is roaming around forests, living on fruits, and sleeping on ground! Not even a message has come from him yet!"

"Worry not! He should be fine. And will definitely send a message too soon." Draupadi assured him, "is it possible for him to not contact us for long?"

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Note: In this book, none other than the fourteen children are the protagonists. Though few small moments of the parents will be there for the sake of story, they are not the main characters here. After the children are born, they only will be getting all the focus. So before I complete all their births, please bear with me. I'm very excited to write on their sweet childhood stories.